AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[turaj]

Yeah, definitely sounds like a plea for a body. "Celebrate" as in "celebrate her life", "only way we will have peace".

sounds that way to me and chances are unless they can negotiate this they may never know where she. is buried.

 

[shadowsc]

Is there a reason this is all playing out over Instagram? And not privately?

I think because the family has no way to correspond with whoever is sending these? So they are appealing publicly? But....still very odd. I guess it's better if they come from SG's personal instagram versus random media? I don't think it would be right if LE was the one releasing the videos from the family since they need to appear very hands off in terms of appeasing ransom demands....

 

[mikeshanty]

I'm shocked anyone thinks they can stand in judgment of any of those 3. Annie looked on the verge of hysterics. In Cameron's video he was seemingly so shaken he couldn't even get a full sentence out without checking his notes. JMO

I am really glad you said this because this family looks utterly broken. And I have said it before, but there are very sadly going to be life-long consequences for this family after this ordeal - namely witness protection or a life in hiding. I do not see any possibility of SG returning to a public facing life after this. Incredibly sad all round.

 

[turaj]

Agree!! But, i do not think they would pay for a dead body.

i disagree and think they would and that is what they were saying.

 

[TheDinks]

At this point, even if we're looking at two separate crimes and this evil creep turns out to be a hacker/hoaxer exploiting a tragic situation for personal gain but not the evil creep guilty of disappearing NG, he should receive just as severe a punishment as if he were.

NGs family has been put through sheer torture in the wake of NG's disappearance with these ransom demands.

The implication of SG's video appears to be that the person who contacted them has insinuated that she's dead.
If this ransom demand stuff proves to be a hoax, doing this to a victim's family is next-level sociopathy.

If it's not a hoax, it's every bit as evil.

This most recent contact may help the FBI to track/trace/apprehend this monster.
A sliver of a silver lining. But something, at least.

JMO.

I still have the belief that the kidnap for ransom is possibly not the real deal here and you're right, whomever is doing it, if caught, should receive severe punishment.

 

[Sessiebo]

Yes, funerals are often called celebrations of life

Yeah i know for example in the carribbean they party carrying a coffin and that's what the word celebration means to me, some kind of party.
However, over here a funeral is not a type of "party" but a very sad and emotional occasion so that's why i cannot relate the word celebration with a funeral that well.
Thank you for clarifying

 

[wibbleflea]

Bitcoin transferred to a bank account in North America or Western Europe through an exchange is traceable. If the family is really going to pay, that cryptocurrency has to go to a country outside those regions. The sums that have been talked about by people who’ve seen the ransom note are too large to turn into regular fiat currency in the US without being tracked and traced. And we (outside the family and LE) don’t even know that the ransom is linked to the abduction. Presumably, the family is reasonably certain, unless they’re playing along.

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[MassGuy]

I put the transcript of the latest SG video in to ChatGPT to get an analysis of it from the viewpoint of an investigator and here is what it said, very interesting:

"Every line feels carefully chosen.

The opening — “We received your message, and we understand” — stands out immediately. Saying “we understand” goes beyond acknowledging contact. It suggests they’re not judging, not challenging, not escalating. It’s a de-escalation move. In hostage or ransom situations, that kind of language is often used to keep the other person calm and engaged, not defensive.

The next part — “We beg you now to return our mother to us so we can celebrate with her” — is interesting for what it avoids. They don’t use words like “victim,” “crime,” or “wrong.” They don’t say “alive” or “safe,” which could backfire if the situation is worse than hoped. Instead, they frame it around family and a positive future moment. It subtly assumes she’s alive without forcing the issue.

“This is the only way we will have peace” is also notable. It doesn’t threaten consequences or mention law enforcement. It frames compliance as emotional closure rather than risk, which may lower the perpetrator’s fear of what happens next.

Finally, “This is very valuable to us and we will pay.” That sentence is doing a lot of work. It clearly signals compliance without turning their mother into a price tag or negotiating publicly. No timelines, no demands — just reassurance.

What really stands out overall is what isn’t there: no anger, no moralizing, no pressure, no ultimatums. That restraint feels intentional. The message reads less like a raw emotional plea and more like something designed to stabilize a volatile situation and keep the person on the other end from panicking or escalating.

Whether or not law enforcement helped shape it, this doesn’t feel spontaneous. It feels strategic — focused on keeping communication open and the situation from getting worse."

Basically, "we want her back no matter what (dead or alive).

I initially believed the kidnappers had told them in their communication yesterday that Nancy was dead, but this makes more sense.

The family is allowing for that possibility (dead), but saying "give her back, either way."

 

[ChicagoSleuth]

<snipped for focus>

Any idea what's on the brother's hat? He has worn that hat in all the videos.

It's a Saguaro National Park logo. It was easier to read during his solo video IMO. Source: Camron Guthrie posts new video asking for mother's return: "We need you to reach out"

(edited to snip for focus)

 

[Cassie P]

I know what it said to me

Probably the same thing it said to me.

 

[shonyakay]

I feel like that can go either way. Just because they've responded publicly to the ransom demand does not automatically make it legit. It may be the case they feel it is legit, but the response alone does not indicate whether or not it's legit. For arguments sake, lets say its two separate offenders - the family could absolutely believe that paying the ransom will bring their mom home, only to find there was no kidnapping and no amount of ransom money would have ever brought their mother home because there was foul play committed by a different offender. Just my 2 pennies worth

Also the FBI has stated that they have left it up to the family to decide whether they want to speak out on the ransom notes. I still have yet to see them confirmed as legit.

My biggest hope would be that they are legit and Nancy is still alive.

Anyine think its possible they were informed shes deceased and they want her body returned and are willing to pay to get body back. This video seemed more somber. Anyone??? Celebrate= celebration of life service as many religious people call a funeral

Celebrate "with her"?

 

[ChiaPet]

If she is dead I’d guess that SG said celebrate WITH her because they want to have her body back rather than a celebration of life without the body

 

[K9Enzo]

Is there a reason this is all playing out over Instagram? And not privately?

On one of Megyn Kelly’s shows this week it was speculated that one platform was selected and FBI is working with IG to monitor reactions and interactions to the videos. IMO

 

[citizen_sleuth]

I wonder if posting these messages on Instagram was a strategic decision by LE/FBI because this platform may be easier for them to surveil from a forensic crime perspective?

JMO but I believe the person sending the demands will only communicate via the media because it provides an additional layer of anonymity. Establishing a two-way line of communication may prove easier to trace. Whether the demands are from the perpetrator or someone looking to capitalize on NG’s disappearance, they have a vested interest in maintaining their anonymity. MOO.

 

[bestill]

I hope and seriously pray that the family has some confidence that their mother will be returned before they pay. This is a tragedy!

 

[browneyes]

SG's Instagram video. I guess there was a very serious threat in the latest communication by the "we understand" comment.

That was heartbreakingly scary.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Full transcript

We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

This new message does answer many questions.

This is why I believe the ransom messages were so late coming...because Nancy most likey perished and these criminals did not know what to do. So first, try to get the ransom with no "proof of life", and wait. And then, if nothing comes, come for the jugular that they will have to pay to get the body back.

Oh how I hope that the fbi and their forensic measures can track this while this dear sweet overwhelmed loving family sp painfully expresses.... we will pay.

 

[Sarahlou]

Is this new, or is from earlier in the week when the Sheriff said he wouldn't be speaking again until this (past) Thursday?

No, definitely not normal. All the former FBI guys making rounds on media are saying kidnappers who ask for ransom go through backchannels to reach the family, and they have never seen a case like this or using major media.

I actually don't take this video to mean that whoever this is told the family that Nancy is deceased. Like.... the first "deadline" was only that the demand or price would increase. The second deadline for Monday was the one of serious consequence. Why if the kidnapper wants his money is he going to suddenly be honest and a good citizen and be all, "well actually she's deceased but if you pay me, I'll return her." They could just stay ambiguous, you know the family was already going to pay with or without proof.

I don't think the "celebrate" necessarily means a "celebration of life service." It could have just been something like the ransom note writer said, "Your mother wants to celebrate that you agreed to do x" or whatever.

I have no idea. I don't think it's the sister's husband. The siblings are all holding hands and look united.

Any idea what's on the brother's hat? He has worn that hat in all the videos.

BIB - It says Saguaro National Park

 

[diggndeeperstill]

If she is dead I’d guess that SG said celebrate WITH her because they want to have her body back rather than a celebration of life without the body

I needed that explanation. The word with is the one I was having problems with.

 

[flabbergastedfart]

Nancy could've been a victim of a romance/sweetheart scam.

Think about it. She's an elderly, single woman who may want some romantic companionship. From what I've heard, she recently lost her dog so she's probably extra lonely all alone in that big house. Sure, she has a church community but she's been attending virtually for awhile and could be spending more time online. Her Facebook account looks like the typical random mishmash of stuff and doesn't necessarily scream tech-savvy. She also appears to have lost some weight and she may have been feeling a bit more confident.

Social media is full of scammers. I could easily see a bad actor luring into their web of lies while gassing her up. They're messaging back-and-forth all day, every day. She tells him about how her life story, her hopes and dreams, her values, and how her days are going. He's a successful silver fox who actually isn't because they're all stolen photos. Maybe he isn't really just one bad actor, but a group of them who have figured out who she's related to and that she has money.

Anyway, she's telling him about her children and how Annie is a jeweler. Perhaps Nancy has told the scammer man about the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, which if I'm not mistaken, is the largest show in the world for rockhounds. People travel from all over for this event. Scammer man/men are interested and tell Nancy that this would be a great time to meet. What they're really thinking is, "Jackpot! Now's a great time to travel to Tucson, blend in with the crowd, and rob Nancy."

What makes me pause with my theory is that these scammers usually don't ever want to actually meet. Maybe they wanted to just be in the area and wait until she's out to rob her house. Who knows, maybe they're extra bold in this instance. Let's go back to their messaging back-and-forth. On fateful January 31st, Nancy says something like "Ok, I'm going to my daughter and son-in-law's house for dinner tonight and tell them about our relationship. I'm so excited for you to meet them!!!" I've heard that a lot of seniors (not all) are embarrassed to tell their kids that they're dating again, so this could very well be a big deal for her.

Annie and Tommaso have been drinking while cooking, and don't want to pick up mom under the influence, so they request an Uber ride for her instead. Nothing weird about that. Nancy arrives and tells them her amazing news once they've all sat down for dinner. Annie and Tommaso are all "WTF!? You're talking to a scammer! Cease all communication IMMEDIATELY." Nancy is upset and has been so brainwashed that she messages scammer man when she comes home saying, "I'm home now. My family doesn't believe in our love and I'm so upset. They want us to break up now." He replies with, "Nothing can come between us, my love. They'll come around. Don't give up!"

At this point, the scammer/scammers are beyond PO'd at Annie and Tommaso. They've already bought tickets, flown into Tucson, and now their plans are this close to being thwarted. They decide to take out the ultimate revenge by kidnapping Nancy in the middle of the night and sending ominous ransom notes.

I'll be the first to admit that I have an active imagination, but you can't tell me these scams aren't common. Check out this video, this article, and this article. My mom also used to be a flight attendant and told me about a passenger she had once on a trip coming back from London. The passenger was an elegant-looking, elderly woman who was visibly upset. When the crew members asked what was going on, she said that she was totally stood up at the airport the other day by a man she was supposed to meet and had sent a lot of money to. She really thought they were in love, and was so ashamed and embarrassed to tell her kids. At least she made it home alive.